Gospel

Even In Death

by Roland Crim
01/05/17
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Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” John 19:28-37 NIV

As Jesus was taking His last gasps of air, His final breaths of earthly life, He realized His work on earth in human form was completed. He had done everything the Father had asked of Him. He was fulfilling the need for the eternal sacrifice. As our Savior was taking His last breaths of air, He still desired to fulfill written scripture, and thus said He was thirsty. With the receiving of the wine vinegar, He said it was all completed. Jesus then bowed His head and turned His spirit over to the Heavenly Father.

Even as Jesus hung on the cross, having died, scripture was still being fulfilled. Exodus 12:46 stated Passover lambs eaten were not to have had any of their bones broken. This rule was given to Moses and Aaron by God. Psalm 34:20 says "He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken." Psalm 22:16 and Zechariah 12:10 each speak of Jesus being pierced. Isaiah 53:5 speaks of Jesus being bruised and wounded. Is it not truly amazing that these events were prophesied many years before our Savior’s birth?

If so much scripture is fulfilled in His death, how much more is fulfilled in His resurrection, and how so much more will be fulfilled with His return to earth in His second coming! Is it not so wonderful to delve deeply into God’s word! It is truly our spiritual nourishment!!